I was born and raised in Arizona, where my love for cooking began at an early age. Growing up, our home was always filled with friends, family, and dinner parties. I was constantly experimenting in the kitchen and looking for new dishes to make for the people I loved. Cooking was never just about food for me, it was about bringing people together.

My dad was always my biggest supporter. When I started experiencing my own health issues, he and I began looking closely at what we were eating. At the time, functional health was still very new and there wasn’t much information available. Through a lot of research, we began to understand how deeply our health is connected to our gut and the foods we put into our bodies. That discovery changed everything for me.

From that point on, I made it my mission to create food that was both nourishing and delicious, because healthy food should never feel like a sacrifice.

During my dad’s cancer battle, I searched everywhere for healthy snacks made with clean ingredients that he could enjoy. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I started making them myself. He loved them and would happily gobble them up. After he passed away, I knew I wanted to honor him by continuing to do what he always encouraged me to do: cook for others.

That passion eventually brought me to Bozeman, where one of my brothers lives. Since moving here, I’ve been furthering my education by earning a certificate in child nutrition and cooking, and I’m currently working toward my integrative health coach certification.

Today, through The Wellness Plate, my goal is simple: to make nourishing food taste amazing while helping people feel more confident and supported in their kitchens. I believe everyone deserves easier access to healthy food, and I do my best to source ingredients locally whenever possible by supporting farms and producers in the area.

Cooking has always been about caring for people, and I’m grateful to continue doing that every day.